No, all private patients do not need a referral from a doctor or specialist for Physiotherapy services. 

For Department of Veterans Affairs, Motor Vehicle Claims, Workers Compensation Claims and Medicare Care Plans (EPCs) you will require a referral from your GP.

At Summit Physio, we pride ourselves in tailored one-on-one “hands on” treatment and evidence-based treatment philosophy. Treatments can include:

• Soft tissue techniques including deep tissue and massage techniques
• Joint mobilisation including the spine and peripheral joints
• Specific stretching of tight muscles
• Manual muscle relaxation techniques
• Dry needling
• Trigger point therapy
• Clinical Exercise

Dry needling is commonly used to decrease pain but the mechanisms behind this response are complex and still not completely understood. Direct stimulation from the needle into the trigger point is thought to activate an inhibitory signal from the brain which dampens the pain response. After needling, blood flow is also increased to the affected area which may help restore normal tissue characteristics. The presence of a trigger point within a muscle and associated pain can contribute to feelings of tightness and reduced range of motion. By dry needling the trigger point, muscle tone can be reduced and movement increased.

Dry needle therapy uses a very fine, solid, filament needle and relies on the stimulation of specific reactions in the target tissue for its therapeutic effect.

The term dry needling is also used to differentiate the use of needling in a western physiological paradigm from the use of needling in an oriental paradigm which is referred to as acupuncture.

Dry needling helps to reduce pain and tension within a muscle, thereby helping the muscles and other tissues to heal. It involves the insertion of needles into trigger points. Needling can help to release trigger point tightness, enhance blood circulation and assist with the release of pain mediating chemicals and endorphins. This helps to reduce pain and promote healing.

While dry needling is relatively safe, there are some risks due to its invasive nature. The most commonly reported side effects are pain and bruising in the needled area, and drowsiness following the treatment.

Physiotherapists often combine it with other treatment techniques to achieve superior results, faster.

If Dry needling is recommended by your Physiotherapist as being beneficial for your condition, they will request your consent prior to the treatment. 

Common conditions that can be treated by Dry needling:

• Chronic pain
• Headaches
• Neck pain
• Lower back pain
• Tennis and golfer’s elbow
• Shoulder impingement and Frozen shoulder
• Knee pain
• ITB friction syndrome
• Hip pain and bursitis
• Sciatica

The most commonly reported side effects of treatment are pain and bruising in the area treated. 

In order to maximise the results of your treatment consider doing the following:

• Keep hydrated
• Keep your muscles warm and keep moving
• Avoid heavy/excessive exercise after treatment
• Keep supported during sleep
• Be a participant in your rehabilitation program
• Give yourself time to heal
• Keep your appointments

All sessions, initial and follow-ups, are 30 or 45 minutes in duration as per your choice.  It is advisable to book extended sessions for more than one issue that requires treatment, or for more complex issues.

Motor Vehicle (ICWA) and Workers Compensation Patients will require a referral from their treating practitioner (Doctor or Specialist). You should also confirm prior to attending your appointment that your treatment expenses will be approved by the insurer. This will speed up the claims process and ensure minimal, if any, out of pocket expense. You will also need to bring the contact details of the claim’s manager, your claim number and the contact details of your lawyer (if applicable) to your appointment.

DVA patients must have a referral letter from a doctor.

4 hours’ notice will allow rescheduling to other clients in need. Failure to give 4 hours’ notice may require you to prepay for your appointment and/or be charge a missed-appointment fee. Prepayment and missed appointment fees are non-refundable and if the prepayment fee is forfeited, this fee is not rebatable. Missed appointments will set you back in your recovery.

We regret that late arrivals may not receive an extension of their scheduled appointment and will be charged in accordance with their scheduled appointment as this time has been allocated to you. In special cases, and when our schedule will allow, we may be able to accommodate a partial or full appointment. This will be at our discretion and will only occur with proper, advanced notification of your late arrival.

If your therapist is running late, due to unforeseen circumstances, you will receive your full scheduled appointment allocation.

• Please arrive 10 minutes before your first consultation to fill out a new patient form (if not already completed).
• Wear clothing that allows us to assess / treat your injured area.
• Bring your private health fund card, if you would like to claim through HICAPS.

Purpose 

The purpose of this Privacy Policy is to ensure that, when receiving care from Summit Physiotherapy, you understand what personal data we collect, how it may be used, disclosed and how we store it. 

What we collect and hold 

Summit Physiotherapy needs to collect your Personal Information in order to provide clinical services to you. 

Personal Information includes, but is not limited to; 

• Names, addresses and contact details; 
• Private health care details (where available) for identification and claiming purposes; 
• Medical information including medical history, medications, allergies, adverse events, social history, family history and risk factors. 
• Medical imaging 
• Demographic information such as postcode, preferences and interests 
• Other information relevant to customer surveys and/ or offers 

How Summit Physiotherapy collects your Personal Information 

Summit Physiotherapy may collect your Personal Information in a number of ways including, but not limited to: 

• Directly from you, for example: 

• The information you provide to Summit Physiotherapy in any Patient Information Sheet; 
• During the course of providing clinical services to you; 
• Via online booking systems 

• From your guardian or responsible person (where practicable and necessary) 
• From any other involved healthcare specialists 

How Summit Physiotherapy holds and secures your Personal Information 

Summit Physiotherapy may store your Personal Information in various forms including: 

• Paper records 
• Electronic format 
• As visual – X-rays, CT scans, videos and photographs 

Summit Physiotherapy takes reasonable steps to maintain the security of your Personal Information and to protect it from unauthorised disclosures. Personal information is restricted to those who have a need to know, and access is restricted via secure log in and password. 

In the event that there is an identified breach and your personal information stored by us is directly at risk, you will be notified as soon as reasonably necessary. We will inform you of what information is at risk and what processes we have put in place to further minimise the risk. 

 How Summit Physiotherapy uses your Personal Information 

Summit Physiotherapy may use your Personal Information for the following purposes: 

• To provide clinical services and treatments to you 
• For claims and payments 
• For marketing and promotion (you may opt out of this) 

When Summit Physiotherapy discloses your Personal Information 

Summit Physiotherapy may disclose your Personal Information: 

• To your authorised representatives or advisers, or otherwise when you ask Summit Physiotherapy to do so 
• When there is a statutory requirement for Summit Physiotherapy to do so. In these circumstances, Summit Physiotherapy will notify you that there is a statutory requirement to disclose certain personal information 
• To law enforcement and national security agencies and other government and regulatory authorities as required or authorised by law 
• For the purpose of facilitating or implementing a transfer/sale of Summit Physiotherapy assets or business. 
• If technical issues arise Summit may disclose reports with your personal information included to third party companies to rectify the technical issue. 

How to access, edit or erase your personal information or make a privacy complaint 

If you wish to access any of your Personal Information held by Summit Physiotherapy or would like to correct any errors in that information or erase all personal data, please contact Summit Physiotherapy.